The Gasha Dokuro: Starving Skeletons in Japanese Mythology

Introduction

• Gasha Dokuro, meaning "starving skeleton," are among the most terrifying yokai in Japanese mythology.
• They are enormous skeletons, 15 times larger than an average human.
• These creatures are formed from the bones of unburied warriors who died on the battlefield, driven by a desire for vengeance.

Characteristics and Behavior

• Roam the landscape at night, targeting and decapitating lone travelers to drink their blood.
• Possess the ability to turn invisible, making them harder to detect.
• Almost indestructible and relentless until their hunger for vengeance is satisfied.

Defense Against Gasha Dokuro

• Shinto charms may slow them, but the primary defense is to run and hide.
• Detectable by the loud ringing sound in the ear and the noise of rattling teeth when they approach.

Mythological Origin

• Legends date back over a thousand years.
• Linked to the rebellion led by Samurai Taira no Masakado against the nobles.
• Masakado's severed head was taken to Kyoto as proof of his death.
• His daughter, a powerful sorceress, summoned Gasha Dokuro to attack Kyoto.

Cultural Depiction

• Famous print "Soma Furudairi" by Uchigawa Kuniyoshi depicts the event.
• The Gasha Dokuro ravaged Kyoto until Masakado's head was relocated to Shibasaki, a place that evolved into modern-day Tokyo.

Modern Legacy

• Masakado's head remains enshrined across from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
• The shrine is maintained as a gesture to appease his spirit.
• Visitors to Tokyo can visit the shrine to pay their respects.

Closing

• This lecture is part of a series on yokai folklore for October.
• More stories can be found in the dedicated playlist for this series.